The Supreme Court's decision overturning Roe v. Wade was clear and
unequivocal. But the political fallout from that opinion for Democrats,
Republicans and the court itself is much more uncertain.
Laura Barron Lopez has more on what this historic ruling could mean
for November's election and more.
Friday's decision sent shock waves throughout the political system
and at all levels of government from statehouses to Congress, and
the decision came down just as president Biden left for six day trip
abroad to meet with foreign allies.
Joining me now to discuss all this are Tamara Keith of NPR. She joins
us from Germany, where she's traveling with President Biden. And
at the desk with me is Annie Linskey of The Washington Post.
Amy Walter is away. Thank you both for joining us today and I want
to start with you. There were protests across the country this weekend
in response to the Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe versus
Wade.
President Biden sees this as a potential motivator, calling on voters
to elect more pro abortion rights Democrats. Is this going to be
a galvanizing midterms issue for not just Democratic voters, but
also independent voters. I mean, you're absolutely right this weekend
as the decision you know the ramifications of the decision settled
in
There was just an explosion of anger and emotion. You know across
the country, and what Democratic strategists are hoping is that that
energy
Sort of persists at that level, because if it does, they believe
that this you know, shift in the legal landscape will motivate suburban
women who have been drifting away from the party since you know with
with various school issues during Covid, but also younger voters.
They also see an opening. There were younger voters who tend to sit
out of midterms.
Are really galvanized by the issue. Republicans are saying, you know,
there might be energy now, but November is a long way away. And at
that, you know, By the time we get around to the elections, gas prices
and so forth will be back on top of mind for voters.
Tamara, You're in Germany with the president right now is he meets
with fellow G seven leaders were so focused here on the Supreme Court
and the Dobbs decision. President Biden said that it hasn't come
up so far. But can you tell us how this ruling is impacting his trip?
Certainly on his way in. Uh, several of the G seven leaders weighed
in and and said that it was horrendous, among other things, that
these leaders
pointed to the decision and said it was wrong and that they would
not accept that sort of erosion of rights in their countries. But
the focus here has very much been on the G seven and on the war with
Between Russia and and Ukraine, and it hasn't been focused on these
domestic political issues. But the administration back at home obviously
is working on this a lot. They have several events planned this week,
including the HHS secretary and others talking about executive actions
that they can take to
You know around the edges, try to preserve access either to abortion
pills or the ability to travel across state lines, for instance,
So it's it's this interesting dichotomy where President Biden is,
you know, in the Alps in this estate very focused with these world
leaders on global issues, and the the domestic issues are really
front of mind, and he has not.
Answered questions from reporters in any significant way since that
decision.
Tamara sticking with you and moving more towards the goal of the
trip that Biden is on. Right now. He's trying to convince foreign
leaders to keep weapons and money flowing to Ukraine as he faces
some hesitancy among us lawmakers about about spending more money.
So how is Biden, keeping those alliances together and maintaining
support?
A at home for Ukraine. Well, certainly the Congress approved enough
money earlier this year to get through several more months of providing
significant aid to Ukraine and the president will be, according to
a source familiar announcing later this week package.
Of military assistance that will include an air missile defense system.
That is something that Ukraine has been wanting. So President Biden
is working with these allies moving forward on sanctions and tariffs,
and they're talking about an oil price cap, but it's a It's a very
complicated maneuver, and and they don't have that.
Sealed just yet, but they're moving forward. They're focused on it,
even as Ukraine has fallen from the top of the headlines in the U.
S, and in much of the world, and we'll definitely be following the
rest of his trip, which he'll be abroad until Thursday. But back
here at home primaries are tomorrow in several states, Annie and
we're not really used to focusing on secretary of state races at
this point in the cycle, if at all, but
In many states this year, there are candidates running on Trump's
lies that the election was stolen. In Colorado. Tina Peters, an election
denier, who was indicted for election tampering earlier this year,
is running for the Republican nomination. How does Peter's fit into
this larger pattern that we've seen among Republican candidates running
up and down the ballot?
Perfect example of a person who you wouldn't think would be a candidate
for secretary of state because in Colorado, she is barred from overseeing
some elections. She's been very active,
you know, and sort of the far right of the Republican Party.
And you're seeing across the country Candidates like her advancing
and secretary of state racism, becoming the Republican nominees.
You you have a very similar situation in Nevada, where Afari Republican
became the nominee in of course in Pennsylvania, the the Republican
nominee for governor, there who would nominate the secretary of state
is also falls into this category.
So I think it's sort of like Colorado is going to be the next test.
But the last few tests have gone the same way, Which is Republican
primary voters really embracing candidates who doubt you know the
January who doubt what the events of January 6th and who
Question whether Joe Biden was properly elected to be president of
the United States, and that is a major shift in our politics and
continuing on that subject of 2020 election. Denialism Tamara the
Select committee investigating the January 6th insurrection, announced
an urgent unexpected hearing set for tomorrow. What do we know so
far about tomorrow's hearing?
And also, what do you think the impact of the hearings to date have
been on voters right? They had said that they weren't planning to
have another hearing until after the fourth of July. And now all
of a sudden this hearing is coming up. They haven't revealed details
yet.
They're saying that there's new evidence and new testimony. So, uh,
you know what this committee has done again and again is must see
TV in a way they have. They have put on a production that, in some
ways, plays the game that former President Trump played in terms
of holding attention. And this element of surprise and every hearing
his head a narrative arc.
Now are the people watching it people who could be persuaded some
of them. Um are are the trump voters who believe that the election
was stolen from him likely to be persuaded.
Probably not. But there is probably very little that would persuade
them.
These hearings definitely have included riveting testimony and stunning
email exchanges between White House officials and Republican members
of Congress as they sought to stop the certification of votes. So
Annie
Any final thoughts on whether these hearings are changing voter's
minds. It's too early to know that yet, but we do know that, um Democrats,
certainly our diet or tuning into them there. There are independents.
But even in the Republican primaries, it's coming up as an issue
where there is some backlash.
That is forming. We're going to see that on Tuesday to there are
a number of Republican incumbents who voted for a similar commission
to be created as similar commission is the committee. That's been
that's going on now, and they are on the ballot on Tuesday and their
vote for the for a commission similar to the one on Tuesday.
Has become a major issue in their race, and you know, we'll see on
Tuesday. Some of them some of these more moderate Republicans very
well may go down on Tuesday because of their votes and their support
of this commission. And you're right that it may be too early to
tell. But there's about four months between now and election Day,
and that's an eternity and plenty of time for the committee's, uh,
the committee's hearings to potentially have impacts, but
Tamara Keith NPR and Annie Linskey of The Washington Post. Thank